Plumbing installation device



April 21, 1964 w. F. MOCLENAHAN 3,129,437

PLUMBING INSTALLATION DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1962 F'IE 5 INVEN'FOR. WILLIAM F. MCCLENAHAN A T TORNE Y5 United States Patent 3,129,437 PLUMBING INSTALLATION DEVICE William F. McClenahan, 778 Burlway Road, Burlingame, Calif. Filed Feb. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 174,470 2 Claims. (Cl. 4252) This invention relates to an installation device for plumbing fixtures and more specifically relates to a device for the installation of tamper-proof institution type fixtures which are installed in such a manner that the fixtures can be serviced and adjusted from the rear.

In penal institutions, mental hospitals and the like it is highly desirable to have tamper-proof fixtures which can be serviced without entering a cell. Such fixtures are installed in such a manner that they cannot be removed or adjusted from the front so that the inmate cannot destroy the fixtures nor waste water. A typical fixture for such purposes is shown in my prior Patent No. 2,860,348.

In accordance with the present invention, a device is provided which lends itself to the rapid, inexpensive and neat installation of such fixtures and one which is particularly adapted for use when a plumbing fixture is installed in a relatively thick wall such as concrete or the like.

In general, the device of the present invention comprises a pair of mating wall members having inwardly directed collars to which may be attached sleeves so that all of the holes necessary in the concrete wall are provided without the necessity of measuring or spacing forms for individual holes. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inwardly facing members also have extending arms so that one or more pieces of pipe can be cast in place in the wall for the operation of flush valves or the like.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a side view in section showing a plumbing fixture installed in a wall utilizing the device of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front plan view of the fixture shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of a device embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view on the lines 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view on the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, the device of the present invention comprises a first member, generally designated 7, and a second member, generally designated 9, each of said members comprising at least one large fiat surface area 11. Since the members 7 and 9 are either identical or are mirror images of each other, the same numbers are used with respect to the various part of the members. In the embodiment illustrated, in addition to the flat surface area 11, cross members 13 and 15 are provided as well as a depending triangular area 19. It will be understood, of course, that this particular shape is dictated by the needs of the particular fixture for which it is designed and that other shapes might be used for other fixtures. In addition to the flat areas thus described, in the embodiment illustrated, an upper extension of the flat member has an inwardly directed flange 21 to which is appended an upwardly directed flange 23. The members 7 and 9 have a plurality of holes therethrough such as those designated 25 and 27. In addition, the upright member 23 has a hole 29 therethrough. All of the holes on the plane of the members 11, 13, 15 and 19 have collars thereon. For instance, the hole 25 has collar 31 while the hole 27 has a collar 33 thereon. The collars are fastened to the T flat members around the holes by soldering, welding or other suitable means well known to those skilled in the art. The collars 33 may be substantially larger than the holes as at 27, as is shown in FIGURE 4 or, as is shown in FIGURE 5, the collar and the hole may be substantially the same size. The reason for this is that at certain times one wishes to use an internal coupling member between the two flat units while at other times an external coupling member is used as is later explained.

A plurality of mating sleeves are provided to act as spacing elements and to form holes in the wall to be formed. Normally one such element would be used for each pair of mating holes and collars. Thus the collars 31 are connected by the sleeve 35 while the collars 33 are connected by short pipe sections 37. It Will be noted, referring particularly to FIGURE 5, that the sleeve 35 fits over the collar 31 so that the ends of the sleeve 35 abut against the bases 38 of the collar 31. Thus the distance separating the members 7 and 9 can be determined by the length of the sleeve 35 which is chosen. On the other hand, the pipes 37 fit inside of the collars 33 and it is for this reason that some of the holes as at 27 are made smaller than the mating collar 33 so that a lip of metal 40 will restrain the end of the pipe and will prevent the members 7 and 9 from being forced together.

The holes 29 in the member 23 are not provided with collars and a pipe as at 41 may be merely slipped between the holes 29 and thus held in place. The members 23 are offset inwardly towards each other, as is shown, so that these members merely support the pipe 41 and are ultimately buried in the wall. In the particular installation illustrated, a flush valve 43 has an operating handle 45 which extends through the wall and terminates at a point above the fixture.

To use the device of the present invention, the various sleeves and pipes such as 35, 37 and 41 are selected in accordance with the desired wall thickness. The members are then fastened in place between forms, not illustrated, which are to form the wall and concrete or other material 47 poured in the form. The members 7 and 9 may be held in place by the wall form or they may be attached to reinforcing members which are to be left in the wall. After the concrete has solidified, the forms are removed, leaving the device of the present invention in the wall so that plumbing connections as at 49, 51, 53 and 55 as well as fasteners at 57 can be installed. Thus, it is possible to inst-all the plumbing without the complicated measuring and placement difliculties which would normally be required.

I claim:

1. A construction adapted for the installation of a plumbing fixture against a wall comprising:

(a) a pair of vertical plates adapted to be separated by concrete;

(b) a plurality of cylindrical collars integral with each of said plates, said collars on each plate being of corresponding sizes, in corresponding positions, and each extending toward one another when said plates are parallel and placed in opposition to one another;

(a) a plurality of openings through said plates defining passageways into the interior of each of said collars;

(d) and a plurality of sleeves bridging the distance from each of the said collars to another corresponding collar, each sleeve telescoping with two opposed collars, said sleeves defining passageways between corresponding cylindrical collars.

2. A construction adapted for the installation of a plumbing fixture against a wall comprising:

(a) a plurality of vertical plates adapted to be separated by concrete, each of the said plates being substantially entirely on opposite sides of the said concrete when installed, each of the said plates having at the normally upper end thereof an integral bracket, generally perpendicular to said plate, each of said brackets having an integral plate at the portion of said bracket farthest removed from the first mentioned plate, each of the second mentioned plates being substantially parallel to the first mentioned plates and being adapted to be mounted in opposed relationship closer to one another than the first mentioned plates;

(b) a plurality of cylindrical collars integral with each of said plates, said collars on opposed plates being of corresponding sizes, in corresponding posi- 1,955,106 tions, and each extending toward one another when 15 2,824,312

said plates are placed parallel and in opposition to one another.

(0) a plurality of openings through said plates de fining passageways into the interior of each of said collars;

(d) and a plurality of sleeves bridging the distance from each of the said collars to another corresponding collar, each sleeve telescoping with two collars, said sleeves defining passageways between corresponding cylindrical collars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Van Norman Apr. 17, 1934 Tortorice Feb. 25, 1958 

1. A CONSTRUCTION ADAPTED FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A PLUMBING FIXTURE AGAINST A WALL COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF VERTICAL PLATES ADAPTED TO BE SEPARATED BY CONCRETE; (B) A PLURALITY OF CYLINDRICAL COLLARS INTEGRAL WITH EACH OF SAID PLATES, SAID COLLARS ON EACH PLATE BEING OF CORRESPONDING SIZES, IN CORRESPONDING POSITIONS, AND EACH EXTENDING TOWARD ONE ANOTHER WHEN SAID PLATES ARE PARALLEL AND PLACED IN OPPOSITION TO ONE ANOTHER; (C) A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THROUGH SAID PLATES DEFINING PASSAGEWAYS INTO THE INTERIOR OF EACH OF SAID COLLARS; (D) AND A PLURALITY OF SLEEVES BRIDGING THE DISTANCE FROM EACH OF THE SAID COLLARS TO ANOTHER CORRESPOND- 